Today’s world cannot run without semiconductorImage Credit source: TV9 Network
Today India is loudly inviting foreign especially Taiwanese companies to come and set up semiconductor factories in the country. Keeping in view the needs of the changing future, the government has also launched the PLI scheme for this sector, but in this matter the path of India becoming self-sufficient has been overcome. However, the ‘Semi Conductor Laboratory’ (SCL), which started in the country 40 years ago, can help in achieving this goal.
Yes, you read it right… Semiconductor is not a new thing for India. Rather, it started as SCL in Mohali, adjacent to Chandigarh in the year 1982 when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. Then this government research institute used to come under the Department of Space, but now its days are about to change.
Why is SCL still special?
Even today no one knows the name of SCL present in Mohali, but it is still special for India. The reason for this is that it has proved its capability in the defense and space sector. At the same time, it has expertise in making 180nm chipsets in the country. This fulfills 60 percent of the demand for this chipset. Therefore, SCL still has the capacity to meet the global demand for semiconductors in this segment in the coming times.
India’s fate can change
Many foreign companies are working on plans to set up their semiconductor plants in India. But it will take at least four years to reach the ground. In such a situation, the semiconductor laboratory can give good results quickly only after a little effort. The attention of the government has also gone towards this and it has also made SCL a partner in its PLI scheme.
The government is paying attention to the modernization of SCL. Plans are underway to set up a brownfield semiconductor factory (a new extension of the existing factory) here, which will be set up as a joint venture.
Indian factory built before Taiwan
SCL was established in 1982 as a research institute. It started making semiconductors in 1984, which is three years before the establishment of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s largest semiconductor company today.
Although TSMC manufactures 54 percent of the world’s semiconductors today. In the year 2022, its revenue has been 60 billion dollars. On the contrary, SCL is surviving somehow. Its revenue has been only 5 million dollars in 2022.
